I'll keep the question simple this time: now that Lidge is struggling a bit this year, does anybody think it is some kind of hangover from last year's post-season (which some predicted here at that time), or is it just a coincidence and he is due to rebound?..

You've got a diamond, You've got nine men You've got a hat and a bat, And that's not all..

I'm curious whether Lidge is hurt. He pitched like a madman in 2004 (over 100 IP) and while VERY good last year, did suffer a slight drop in K/9 and K/BB. Throw in all the extra IP in the playoffs the last two years, the slight drop in velocity and loss of control this season and I'm not sure a mechanical tweak will fix it. However, I hope so.

When he was good BK kim didn't have a 97MPH fastball. He had a fribee of a slider slider and a high 80s sinker. His downfall probably had more to do with utter reliance on perfect mechanics everytime for his submarine delivery. I remeber a few games with the sox where he would fall apart, and it was obviously because his footwork or momentum was waaayy out of synch. He was just totally inconsistent.

Lidge has a standard pitching motion, so he will have a much easier time fixing his problems.